How Does the Auto Transport Industry Work?
The auto shipping industry can be a somewhat confusing to some people You need to understand how it works and then it will be much easier to understand why things happen the way they do. Here are the basics of the industry:
Auto Brokers (transport companies) provide you with a quote. They do not own any trucks. After you choose to do business with them, the broker contracts with an auto hauler to pick up and deliver your car. Auto Shipping TLC (Tender Loving Care), as a broker will do their due diligence to make sure that the company they contract with is up to strict standards.
Auto haulers, which can be a trucking company or an individual owner-operator, want to run their trucks as fully loaded as possible. They look for vehicles that are shipping in their routes. Auto haulers frequently use load boards, which are sites where auto transport brokers post available loads, to fill their trucks. Auto haulers do not work directly with individuals shipping their cars, because they work with a Broker who posts the vehicle on a central board.
Typically, auto transport brokers quote you a price without having a truck lined up. Remember, this is only a quote. By requesting a quote on line you will receive emails and/or phone calls from 3 to 10 car shipping brokers. Once a customer chooses to work with a broker, the broker then finds an auto hauler to ship the vehicle at the quoted price which at that time is a fair price to the driver. Again, remember this is only a quote until a driver accepts the price.
IMPORTANT - BEWARE OF THE FOLLOWING FROM PEOPLE YOU SPEAK TO AND SAY THAT:
- WE HAVE OUR OWN TRUCKS
- WE GUARANTEE PRICING
- WE GUARANTEE THE PICK UP DATE
- WE HAVE A TRUCK RIGHT IN YOUR AREA
